Implementation of “Una Giornata a Milano ai Tempi degli Antichi Romani!” (SOI-IT-476)

Our scenario builds upon a scenario sourced from Europeana’s blog (Una Giornata a Milano ai Tempi degli Antichi Romani!”(CUR-it-474)), tailored for students of the same age as ours (tenth grade), and exploring the same topic: the legacy of ancient Romans. This inherent alignment facilitated a seamless integration into our eTwinning project on Roman roads. We particularly valued the enriched focus on everyday life aspects and the incorporation of gamification and game-based learning elements in the source scenario.

In our adaptation, we encouraged students to adopt a playful approach, culminating in the creation of virtual escape rooms utilizing information and images sourced from the Europeana site (ensuring at least one image originated from this repository). However, our project extended beyond the initial scenario, evolving into a more extensive and intricate endeavour due to its integration within an eTwinning project with Erasmus+ mobility.

Scheduled from October to May, our project engaged students in multifaceted activities. These included classroom sessions with teachers, participation in online and on-site conferences, involvement in Erasmus+ mobility programs, and visits to museums and archaeological sites near their schools. Through these diverse experiences, students delved deeper into the realm of Roman heritage, synthesizing their newfound knowledge by crafting the plot for the escape rooms and subsequently bringing it to fruition using Genially.

Our project’s scope and duration exceeded that of the initial scenario, reflecting its incorporation into a broader educational initiative. This expansion not only enriched students’ understanding of Roman heritage but also provided them with a holistic learning experience encompassing various educational modalities and cultural exchanges.

Stages of implementation

In the pursuit of enriching our students’ understanding of ancient Roman heritage, we embarked on a collaborative educational endeavour, drawing inspiration from the learning scenario sourced from Europeana’s blog. Our objective was clear: to captivate the interest of tenth-grade students by employing interactive methods to delve into the multifaceted legacy of the ancient Romans.

Our approach was meticulously structured, unfolding in distinct phases tailored to facilitate a comprehensive learning experience:

Introduction to the topic

We commenced by acquainting our students with the overarching theme of Roman legacy and its enduring relevance in contemporary society. This foundational understanding set the stage for deeper exploration.

Exploration of Learning Scenario

Leveraging the immersive environment of an Erasmus+ mobility program in La Rochelle, France, in March 2024, educators dissected the learning scenario sourced from Europeana’s blog. Delving into nuances such as aspects of everyday life and the strategic integration of gamification elements, teachers elucidated the potential of Europeana’s platform in facilitating engaging educational experiences.

Exploration of Learning Scenario

Leveraging the immersive environment of an Erasmus+ mobility program in La Rochelle, France, in March 2024, educators dissected the learning scenario sourced from Europeana (Carte de la Route romaine, Carte du Département du Bas-Rhin, Carte des voies romaines du Département de la Haute-Marne). Delving into nuances such as aspects of everyday life and the strategic integration of gamification elements, teachers elucidated the potential of Europeana’s platform in facilitating engaging educational experiences.

Creation of Virtual Escape Rooms

Empowered with newfound insights, students embarked on a creative journey to construct virtual escape rooms. Drawing upon information and imagery gleaned from Europeana’s repository, students were tasked with crafting immersive experiences that not only entertained but also educated.

Synthesis and Reflection

As the culminating phase, students were prompted to synthesize their learnings by penning the plotlines for their respective escape rooms. This reflective process encouraged students to consolidate their understanding of Roman heritage while fostering critical thinking and creativity.

We adapted the learning scenario to seamlessly integrate with our eTwinning project on Roman roads, enriching the educational experience with a hands-on approach and facilitating remote collaboration among international teams. Time Allocation Suggestions were carefully deliberated to optimize the learning journey:

• Introduction to the topic spanned four months, strategically integrated into the curriculum.
• Exploration of Europeana resources entailed a 60-minute synchronous session, supplemented by asynchronous activities for international teams to curate escape room content.
• Creation of Virtual Escape Rooms unfolded over a month, fostering asynchronous collaboration among international teams.
• Finally, students convened for a 60-minute synchronous session to immerse themselves in the culmination of their endeavors: playing the virtual escape room games during the project’s final videoconference.

This is an example made by teachers about what we asked our students as the final virtual escape room game. This is the page of the TwinSpace with the instructions to our students about how they can write the plot of the virtual escape room and they can create the game with Genially. 

Collaborating with my eTwinning partners, Sophie Bauer from Lycee Saint Exupery (France) and Ildikò Tokaji from Százhalombattai Arany János Általános Iskola és Gimnázium Százhalombatta (Hungary), proved instrumental in realizing our educational vision. Through regular online meetings and resource sharing, each school contributed unique perspectives, enriching the educational journey for all participants and cementing the success of our collaborative venture.

Outcomes

The implementation of our educational project yielded significant learning outcomes for both students and teachers alike. Through a multifaceted approach, we aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the legacy of ancient Romans while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy skills.

Students embarked on a journey of discovery, utilizing Europeana’s rich repository of resources to delve into various aspects of Roman heritage. Through the creation of virtual escape rooms, they not only engaged with historical content but also honed their problem-solving abilities and explored the application of gamification and game-based learning techniques. This immersive experience provided students with a nuanced understanding of Roman society, encompassing elements of everyday life and cultural practices.

Here you can find the links to our students teams’ virtual escape rooms: Green, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow.

Furthermore, the project served as a catalyst for the development of critical thinking and creativity among students. Tasked with designing escape room challenges, students were required to synthesize their historical knowledge and apply it in a practical and interactive context. This process encouraged them to think analytically, creatively, and strategically, resulting in the creation of captivating and educational escape room experiences.

In addition, to academic growth, students also enhanced their digital literacy skills through the utilization of online resources and digital tools such as Genially. Navigating Europeana’s online repository and employing digital platforms effectively and responsibly not only enriched their learning experience but also equipped them with essential skills for the digital age.

From an educator’s perspective, the project offered a wealth of opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. The abundance of resources provided by Europeana’s blog facilitated engaging and interactive learning experiences, aligning seamlessly with our curriculum objectives. Moreover, collaborating with colleagues from different schools fostered a culture of collaborative learning and cultural exchange. Through regular online meetings and resource sharing, educators enriched their teaching practices, gaining insights and best practices from their peers.

Personally, implementing the learning scenario allowed me to explore innovative teaching methodologies and digital tools, contributing significantly to my professional development as an educator. Witnessing students’ enthusiasm and deep engagement with the subject matter reaffirmed the effectiveness of integrating digital resources into the curriculum and underscored the importance of creating immersive and interactive learning experiences. Overall, the project served as a testament to the transformative power of collaborative learning and the invaluable role of digital resources in education.

Link to the learning scenario implemented: Una Giornata a Milano ai Tempi degli Antichi Romani! (CUR-IT-474) – Teaching With Europeana (eun.org)

Do you want to discover more stories of implementation? Click here.

PDM 1.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Rijksmuseum.